Rejuvenation of Ber-Based Hortipasture System Through Micro-Nutrients (Boron and Zinc) and Moisture Conservation

Abstract

An experiment was undertaken in grownup ber-based hortipastoral (15 years old) system under rainfed situation. Zinc (13.6–19.2 ppm) and boron (28–37.7 ppm) deficiency was evident in the ber leaves at lower ebb of critical limit. Fruit productivity and understorey pasture production was declining over the years. Therefore, attempts were made to rejuvenate the orchard through use of micronutrients and moisture conservation. The plants were supplied with boron (0.3 and 0.6% Borax) and zinc (0.2 and 0.4% Zinc Sulphate) through foliar application at two stages, before flowering and after fruit set. Understorey pasture was rejuvenated through gap filling of Guinea grass and reseeding of Carribean stylo in the inter row spaces in order to maintain optimum plant population of pasture along with bunding of orchard as moisture conservation measure under rainfed situation. Maximum fruit set (7.7%), minimum fruit drop (20.83%) and maximum fruit yield (97.29 t/ha) were recorded with 0.6% borax and 0.4% Zinc sulphate combinations. Moisture conservation practice influenced the forage (7.41 t DM/ha) and fruit yield (6.49 t/ha) through maintaining the sufficient moisture regime for longer duration.